"It Could Have Been Prevented"
How Haredim Bear the Deadly Toll of Israel's Measles Epidemic
As global measles cases rise, linked to U.S. and European clusters, the outbreak tests Israel's herd immunity threshold of 95%, exposing vulnerabilities in undervaccinated pockets.
As Israel's measles outbreak surges into its seventh month, the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community continues to shoulder the brunt of the crisis, with the latest tragedy, a Haredi infant girl's death from measles complications, marking the eighth child fatality since April 2025, all from unvaccinated families in Haredi enclaves. Dozens more children remain hospitalized in intensive care, underscoring the preventable nature of a disease eradicated in Israel for over a decade until this resurgence.
The epidemic, which began in late April with initial cases tied to international travel, has now confirmed over 1,700 infections nationwide, predominantly in Haredi-majority areas like Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, and Modi'in Illit.
Health Ministry data as of early October shows 437 hospitalizations since May, including 39 in intensive care units, with the death toll climbing rapidly in recent weeks—all victims under 2.5 years old, lacking prior vaccination.
Medical experts estimate that full immunization could have averted every one of these losses, as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is over 97% effective with two doses.
In an opinion piece published Sunday by Kikar HaShabbat, commentator Danny Shpitz decried the disparity as a "ticking bomb" and potential "health discrimination," arguing that the outbreak's confinement to Haredi neighborhoods allows the government to downplay the threat.
"As long as the disaster is concentrated only in Haredi communities, don't expect dramatic declarations from the prime minister, road blockades, or curfews like during the COVID era," Shpitz wrote.
He highlighted a 48% non-vaccination rate among Haredi youth—far above the national average of 89% for infants—and accused the Health Ministry of complacency, favoring spotty ad campaigns over robust field operations.
Outbreak hotspots mirror patterns from Israel's 2018-2019 epidemic, which infected over 4,300, mostly in Haredi areas, killing three.
Current zones include not only core Haredi cities but also mixed locales like Harish, Nof Hagalil, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, and Safed, where unvaccinated children have doubled since 2018.
The virus's high contagiousness—spreading via air for up to two hours—thrives in dense, insular communities with lower routine immunization: Jerusalem at 80%, Beit Shemesh at 78%. Recent spikes followed events like the Lag B'Omer pilgrimage in May, drawing hundreds of thousands to Mount Meron despite warnings.
Critics like Prof. Hagai Levin, head of the Israel Public Health Physicians Association, have slammed the ministry for halting weekly epidemiology reports and comprehensive "Health Intelligence" dashboards since mid-2025, citing "technical adjustments." This opacity, Levin argues, hampers real-time tracking essential for pandemics.
Vaccination efforts show mixed results: Monthly doses in Beit Shemesh jumped 130% to 1,522 in 2025 from pre-outbreak averages, with similar gains in Modi'in Illit (134%), Jerusalem (82%), and Bnei Brak (41%).
Yet, Shpitz notes persistent gaps: Crowded clinic hours, inconsistent guidelines across health funds on eligible ages (now advanced to six months for the first dose), and minimal enforcement against vaccine refusers.The ministry has allocated 180,000 shekels in no-bid contracts to Haredi nonprofits in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh for tailored outreach, echoing a successful 2018 model that curbed that outbreak. It vows legal action against "fake news" spreaders, especially in health roles, and reports a recent uptick in compliance.
In response to Haaretz, the ministry affirmed its multi-pronged strategy: Collaborating with clinics, well-baby centers, local authorities, and community figures to reach low-coverage groups. "External partnerships are time- and budget-limited, designed to complement ministry activities with culturally adapted messaging," it stated, adding that recent weeks saw "significant increases in vaccination uptake."
Still, infectious disease experts like Prof. Eyal Leshem of Sheba Medical Center call the deaths "shocking and appalling" in 2025 Israel, urging Haredi leaders to prioritize protection. But, for Haredi families, the toll is personal: Funerals for infants amid rising hospitalizations, with calls growing for aggressive interventions before the virus breaches broader society.